Talking to Kids about the Gulf Oil Spill

President Obama and daughter swim in the Gulf 8-14-2010

A guide for parents and educators, and interventions at home for preschoolers to adolescents. Learn common signs, recognize problems, and respond appropriately.

Tips for Talking to Children & Youth About the Oil Spill Disaster

A Guide for Parents and Educators

The grief, loss, and change from the oil spill disaster can leave children feeling frightened, confused, and insecure. Whether children have experienced personal consequences of the oil spill through their family or community, watched it on television, or overheard it being discussed by adults, parents and educators must be informed and ready to help when emotional and physical reactions begin to occur.

Children and youth may react to the oil spill disaster in many different ways. Some may have reactions very soon; others may do fine for weeks or months and then begin to show troubling behavior. Knowing the signs that are common at different ages can help parents, caregivers, and teachers recognize problems and respond appropriately.

Interventions at Home for Preschoolers to Adolescents

The stress and impact of the oil spill can affect children as much as adults. Some children may be affected without anyone knowing. Without meaning to, parents may make a child feel that it is not all right to talk about the experience. This may cause confusion, self-doubt, and feelings of helplessness in a child. A child needs to hear that many feelings are normal during and after an event. Knowing this helps a child cope with the experience.

Children and youth may show signs of stress due to the losses and change caused by the oil spill in the Gulf Coast. Signs may include sadness, tantrums, aggressive or withdrawn behavior, and a return to outgrown behavior. Signs may also include stomach aches and headaches, and an ongoing desire to stay home from school or away from friends. These signs are normal and usually do not last long. You can help your child with the following suggestions.

Preschool Age

Common Signs

Children ages 1–5 find it particularly hard to adjust to change and loss. These youngsters have not yet developed their own coping skills, so they depend on parents, family members, and teachers to help them through difficult times.

Very young children may return to an earlier behavioral stage to cope with the stress and loss associated with the oil spill disaster. Preschoolers may resume thumb-sucking or bedwetting, or they may suddenly become afraid of strangers, animals, darkness, or "monsters." They may cling to a parent or teacher, or become very attached to a place where they feel safe.

Changes in eating and sleeping habits are also common, as are unexplainable aches and pains.

Other symptoms to watch for are disobedience, hyperactivity, speech difficulties, and aggressive or withdrawn behavior.

Interventions at Home

• Stick to regular family routines
  
  
• Make an extra effort to provide comfort and support
  
  
• Avoid separation when possible
  
  
• Allow your child to sleep in the parents' room for a limited time
  
  
• Encourage your child to express feelings through play, drawing, puppet shows, and storytelling
  
  
• Limit media exposure

Early Childhood

Common Signs

Children ages 5–11 may have some of the same reactions that younger children have. They also may withdraw from playgroups and friends, compete more for the attention of parents, fear going to school, allow school performance to drop, become aggressive, or find it hard to concentrate. These children may return to more childish behaviors, such as asking to be fed or dressed.

Interventions at Home

• Provide extra attention
  
  
• Set gentle but firm limits for acting out behavior
  
  
• Always listen to your child's telling of the experience
  
  
• Encourage your child to express feelings through talk and play
  
  
• Provide home chores and activities that are structured, but not too demanding
  
  
• Explain how people are helping to respond to the oil spill and how communities are impacted by this disaster

Adolescence

Commons Signs

Children and youth ages 12–18 are likely to have vague physical complaints when under stress, and they may abandon chores, school work, or other responsibilities that they previously handled. Although some may compete vigorously for attention from parents and teachers, they also may withdraw, resist authority, become disruptive or aggressive at home or in the classroom, or begin to experiment with high-risk behaviors, such as alcohol or drug use.

These young people are at a developmental stage in which the opinions of others are very important. They need to be thought of as "normal" by their friends and are less concerned about relating well with adults or participating in family activities they once enjoyed.

In later adolescence, teens may experience feelings of helplessness and guilt because they are unable to assume full adult responsibilities as their family and community responds to the oil spill disaster.

Older teens may minimize their emotions.

Interventions at Home

• Provide extra attention
  
  
• Be there to listen to your child, but do not force talk about feelings
  
  
• Encourage discussion of experiences among peers
  
  
• Urge your child to take part in physical activities
  
  
• Support the return to regular activities when possible
  
  
• Promote healthy eating and exercise habits
  
  
• Limit exposure to media

For Educators and Parents: How to Help

Reassurance is the key to helping children and youth through this difficult time. Very young children need a lot of cuddling, as well as verbal support. Answer questions about the event honestly, but do not dwell on the details or allow the oil spill to dominate family or classroom time indefinitely. Encourage children of all ages to express emotions through conversation, writing, or artwork and to find a way to help others who were affected.

Try to maintain a normal household or classroom routine and encourage children to participate in recreational activities. Temporarily reduce your expectations about performance in school or at home, perhaps by substituting less demanding responsibilities for normal assignments or chores.

Acknowledge that you, too, may have reactions associated with the oil spill disaster and take steps to promote your own physical and emotional healing. Model healthy stress-relieving behaviors, minimize alcohol intake, and be proactive about managing your family's or classroom's stress.

Tips for Talking to Children and Youth About the Oil Spill

• Provide children and youth with opportunities to talk about what they are seeing on television and to ask questions.
  
  
• Do not be afraid to admit that you cannot answer all of their questions.
  
  
• Answer questions at a level they can understand.
  
  
• Provide ongoing opportunities for them to talk.
  
  
• Discuss what they can realistically do to help; almost everyone finds comfort in being part of the solution to a shared problem.
  
  
• Encourage discussion of other fears and concerns about unrelated issues. This is a good opportunity to explore these issues too.
  
  
• Monitor television watching. Some parents or caregivers may wish to limit exposure to ongoing media coverage of the impact of the oil spill. To the extent possible, adults should be present when their child is watching news coverage of the event. It is at these times that questions might arise.
  
  
• Help children understand that there are no bad emotions and that a wide range of reactions is normal. Encourage children to express their feelings to adults (including teachers and parents) who can help them understand their feelings and emotions.
  
  
• Help children identify positive things that have emerged from the tragedy, such as heroic actions, families who united and shared support, and the assistance offered by people throughout the community.

When Talking Isn't Enough

For some children, more active interventions may be required, particularly if they were more directly affected by the consequences of the oil spill disaster.

• The family, as a unit, might consider counseling if the emotional or physical problems persist
  
  
• Families may choose to permit "temporary" behavior, such as clinging. Several arrangements may help children separate gradually after the agreed-upon time limit: spending extra time with parents immediately before bedtime, leaving the child's bedroom door slightly ajar, and using a nightlight.
  
  
• Many parents have their own fears related to the oil spill disaster or other fears they may be unable to acknowledge. Parents often are more able to seek help on their children's behalf and may, in fact, use their children's problems as a way of asking for help for themselves and other family members.
  
  
• Teachers also can help children with art and play activities, as well as by encouraging group discussions in the classroom and informational presentations about the oil spill

Note for Parents

Remember that in order to help your child, it is important that you take care of yourself. Make sure that you are taking the time to deal with your own stress and reactions to this disaster. You do not have to "fix" how your child feels. Try to help your child understand and cope with the Gulf Coast disaster. Healing takes time for most children. Some children may need professional help. If signs of stress do not subside, or if they get worse, consider consulting a mental health professional trained in working with children.

Contacts

Hotlines

National Domestic Violence Hotline
Toll-Free: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
TTY: 1-800-787-3224

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Toll-Free: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
TTY: 1-800-799-4TTY (4889)
Web Site: http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org

Treatment Locator

SAMHSA Treatment Referral Helpline
Toll-Free: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
TTY: 1-800-487-4TTY (4889)
Web Site: http://www.samhsa.gov/treatment/

Information Clearinghouse

SAMHSA Health Information Network
Toll-Free: 1-877-726-4727
TTY: 1-800-487-4TTY (4889)
Web Site: http://www.samhsa.gov/shin

Helpful Resources

SAMHSA Disaster Technical Assistance Center (DTAC)Toll-Free: 1-800-308-3515
E-Mail: DTAC@samhsa.hhs.gov
Web Site: http://www.mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/dtac
For specific State referral information, please contact SAMHSA DTAC.

The National Child Traumatic Stress Network
Web Site: http://www.nctsnet.org
Workplace Helpline
Toll-Free: 1-800-967-5752
Web Site: http://www.workplace.samhsa.gov/

Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Mental Health Services